Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 February 2024.

The UK’s statement during Monaco’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Delivered on 29 January 2024.

Thank you, Mr President,

The UK welcomes Monaco’s commitment to the protection of human rights, and its longstanding guarantees on the freedom of religion and belief within the Principality.

We commend Monaco’s efforts to improve women’s rights, and welcome the repeal of the civil code provisions which prohibit women from remarrying within 310 days of the dissolution of a previous marriage.

We note, however, that there is still work to be done to ensure the protection of women, and provision of equal rights for same-sex couples.

We recommend:

1. Improvements to conditions inside prisons, such as access to daylight, and increasing space for activities, including those outdoors.
2. Reviewing legislation concerning same-sex couples to ensure continuity with rights and recognitions afforded to opposite-sex couples.
3. Conducting an official review of legislative barriers to justice for victims of sexual crimes and domestic violence, including adopting a broader definition of domestic violence in line with the Istanbul Convention.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 February 2024.

The UK’s statement during Belize’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Delivered on 29 January 2024.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 February 2024.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 February 2024.

Joint statement by the United Kingdom, Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the United States.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 February 2024.

The UK has made a statement following the announcement of Senegal’s delayed presidential elections.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

As a close friend to Senegal, the United Kingdom deeply respects Senegal’s strong tradition of democracy. We are concerned about the uncertainty created by postponing the Presidential elections. We join with ECOWAS in urging the Senegalese authorities to swiftly set a new date for elections, and in encouraging all participants to work together peacefully towards a transparent, inclusive and credible election process.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 February 2024.

The UK reaffirmed its commitment on strengthening trade, investment, and economic transformation in Ghana at the nineth UK-Ghana Business Council in Accra on 31 January 2024.

• signs bilateral Communique with Ghana on economic commitments from the ninth UK-Ghana Business Council
• signs MOU agreements to further partnerships in automotive sector, animal systems, science technology, and innovation with Ghana
• commits to continued partnerships in line with the United Kingdom’s International Development White Paper

The council, which was co-chaired by the Vice President of Ghana, His Excellency Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the Minister for State for Development and Africa, Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP, agreed specific actions to accelerate greater trade and investment to bring mutual prosperity for both countries.

Minister for Development and Africa, Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP, said:

I am immensely proud of the UK-Ghana Business Council and what we have delivered together. Today we celebrate the success of a new partnership in the automotive sector, and a new Green Cities and Infrastructure programme, which will help mobilise climate finance and of course, exciting ambitions for our relationship on science, technology, and innovation.

This is a testament to the enduring friendship between our two countries. Our collaborative efforts in the past 5 years have chartered a course for economic prosperity, innovation, and shared growth.

I look forward to our commitment to continue to create opportunities for our nations.

The Minister recognised the significance of the £5 million multi-country ODA funded bilateral technical partnership on animal health between the UK and countries in Africa, including Ghana. This was during a meeting with the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong.

The project aims to strengthen terrestrial and aquatic animal health systems to better prevent, detect and respond to disease outbreaks, increasing the productivity and resilience of the farming sector and working towards ending preventable deaths in vulnerable communities. To date, over 228 communities in Ghana have benefited from the project.

He also expressed the UK’s continued support and commitment for Ghana’s economic recovery and discussed progress on the IMF programme in a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Finance Hon. John Ampontuah Kumah. Andrew Mitchell also used the opportunity to engage on the Climate Vulnerable Forum’s priorities with President Nasheed and how the UK can support Ghana as chair.

Further to his engagement with the Deputy Minister of Finance, Andrew Mitchell also met with the Minister for National Security, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah. The two discussed regional security developments, including the situation in Niger, and Ghana’s role in bilateral and multilateral responses through ECOWAS and the Accra Initiative building off the back of the third Security Dialogue held in Accra recently.

Minister Mitchell also met with MPs from both sides of the political divide, and used the opportunity to express the value the UK government places on Ghana’s democracy and the importance of free, fair, and peaceful elections.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 3 February 2024.

The Prime Minister spoke to New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon yesterday.

The leaders discussed a wide range of international issues, as well as the thriving UK-New Zealand bilateral relationship.

The Prime Minister thanked New Zealand for their contribution to Operation Interflex, which has trained almost 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers in the UK, saying it was an extremely valuable contribution to Ukraine’s defence.

He also welcomed Prime Minister Luxon’s support for action to deter Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The leaders agreed it was vital to build an international coalition to stand up to aggression and defend freedom of navigation at sea, whether in the Gulf or the Pacific. On the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Prime Minister set out the UK’s work to secure the release of hostages, alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reach a sustainable ceasefire.

Turning to economic issues, Prime Minister Luxon welcomed the UK’s accession to the major CPTPP trade bloc and the leaders highlighted the opportunities flowing from the new UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. They agreed it was important for 5 Eyes partners to continue to cooperate on addressing threats to global economic security and stability, including from China.

The Prime Minister welcomed the opportunity to speak to Prime Minister Luxon and looked forward to continuing to deepen the historic alliance between the UK and New Zealand, built on strong security, economic and cultural ties.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 February 2024.

David Cameron reaffirms UK commitment to supporting de-escalation efforts in Lebanon, & ongoing support to the Lebanese Armed Forces reaching £100m since 2009.

UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, ended a one-day visit to Lebanon yesterday. This is his first official visit to the country as Foreign Secretary, following his previous visit as Prime Minister in September 2015 and his fourth visit to the Middle East as Foreign Secretary.

David Cameron, accompanied by Lord Ahmad, Minister of State for the Middle East, met with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander General Joseph Aoun, and Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon,  Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz. In his meetings, David Cameron raised his concerns on the rising tensions along Lebanon’s boundary with Israel and underlined the UK’s commitment to support the de-escalation of violence.

During a visit to the Rayak military airbase in the Bekaa, David Cameron saw first-hand how the UK and Lebanon are working closely together on providing training for the four Land Border Regiments. Cameron reaffirmed the longstanding and proud partnership with the Lebanese Army.

The Foreign Secretary announced UK support for the LAF, which has now surpassed £100 million since 2009. To date, the UK has supported the construction of 78 border towers, the provision of 344 Land Rovers, 3450 sets of PPE to soldiers deployed on border operations, 100 Land Rover armoured patrol vehicles trained and mentored over 26,500 LAF personnel in border operations and internal security.

The Foreign Secretary also announced £7.35 million of new UK aid funding to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Lebanon Humanitarian Fund, which supports UN agencies and NGOs to provide food, water, shelter and other basic support to vulnerable communities across Lebanon. And a £2.6m contribution to support the education of vulnerable children through a network of community centres for out of school children as part of UNICEF and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s (MEHE) Transition and Resilience Education Fund (TREF).

The visit builds on the Foreign Secretary’s regional visits last week and this week. He continues to push for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, and building towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

The UK is working to help preserve stability in Lebanon and prevent a damaging regional escalation.

We’re supporting the Lebanon Armed Forces – we’ve trained over 26,500 Lebanese soldiers and are giving further humanitarian aid to help the most vulnerable.

Thank you PM Najib Mikati and Speaker Berri.

British Ambassador to Lebanon Hamish Cowell said:

Yesterday’s visit by Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron and Minister for the Middle East Lord Ahmad reaffirms the UK’s long-standing support and commitment to Lebanon’s stability and security.

The situation across the Blue Line is fragile and an escalation in violence is not in anyone’s interests. In his meetings, the Foreign Secretary stressed the need for a cessation of hostilities and implementation of UNSCR 1701. This is critical if we are to see a long-term solution for peace.

We are proud of our steadfast support to the Lebanese Armed Forces, which will continue to strengthen their ability to manage and respond to security challenges. Our support to the most vulnerable in Lebanon also continues.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 February 2024.

The inaugural UK-EU Counter-Terrorism Dialogue took place in Brussels on 2 February 2024, to enhance cooperation on counter-terrorism.

On 2 February 2024, the inaugural UK-EU Counter-Terrorism (CT) Dialogue, as established by the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), took place in Brussels. This Dialogue was a welcome opportunity for the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) to discuss a wide range of counter-terrorism issues, including assessments on the terrorist threat, and strategic approaches for prevention and response in order to protect our citizens.

The UK and EU shared best practice and expertise on counter-terrorism, including responses to terrorist content online and financing of terrorism. They also spoke about cooperation, including with other third countries and in multilateral fora and agreed to continue these important exchanges.

The UK delegation was chaired by Jonathan Emmett, Director of Counter-Terrorism & Homeland Security Strategy in the Home Office, who was accompanied by officials from the Home Office, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and a police representative from the UK’s Liaison Bureau at Europol. On the EU side, which included an observer from the Belgian Presidency on behalf of EU Member States, the Dialogue was chaired by Nadia Costantini, Special Envoy for Counter-Terrorism, of the European External Action Service (EEAS). Representatives from the European Commission, including Deputy Director-General from the Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs, Olivier Onidi, and the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator’s office also joined.

The UK welcomed the rich and constructive discussion with its EU counterparts. The next CT Dialogue will be held in London.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 February 2024.

Deputy Ambassador Brown marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day and condemns Holocaust denial and distortion.

Thank you Ambassador Gras, for your introductory comments and Croatia’s work as President of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

Last week we marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day, remembering and honouring the 6 million Jewish people, Roma, disabled, gay men, political opponents and Jehovah’s Witnesses who were murdered. All murdered for who they were and what they believed.

The Holocaust was one of the darkest moments in human history. Tragically, recent events have underlined its continued relevance today. Israel was founded in the shadow of the Holocaust as a place of sanctuary for the Jewish people. And as we have seen the ugly face of antisemitism resurface, with an unprecedented surge in hate crime globally since the barbaric attacks on the 7th of October. Shamefully, this was also the case in the United Kingdom.

The UK will succeed Croatia as President of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance later this year, convening meetings in Glasgow in June and in London in December. During our Presidency we will mark the 85th anniversary of the first Kindertransport, the rescue of almost ten thousand Jewish children. Children who became Nobel prize winners, members of our legislatures and – in the UK – include the midwife who first held the future King Charles the Third.

We will soon reach a point where the march of time means that the Holocaust will no longer be part of our living history. With that comes a growing concern about the rise of Holocaust denial and distortion – recasting history to erase the devastating horrors faced by the Jewish people and others.

Our Presidency therefore aims to help children understand that the Holocaust did not happen in secret, hidden away in the dark corner, beyond most citizens’ gaze. We want to shine a spotlight on the circumstances that led up to the Holocaust and the nature of society that allowed it to happen in plain sight.

Alongside this, we will prioritise tackling the continued rise of Holocaust distortion. We have a duty to protect the facts, fighting back against attempts to minimise or erase the devastation endured by the Jewish people. As IHRA Presidency and working with the OSCE, the UK will therefore convene AI, social media and other experts to discuss Holocaust distortion, including risks from deep fake technology and online disinformation.

Today is above all a day for remembering. We remember all those who were murdered.  And as we remember them, I reiterate the UK’s commitment to continuing that remembrance among future generations and to combating antisemitism domestically and across the OSCE region.

Thank you Chair.